Folding hat brim



y 1956 v. LANGNESS 2,743,455

FOLDING HAT BRIM Filed May 29. 1953 IN VEN TOR. Vl'llalzfiazz esa ATTDR N EYS United States Patent FOLDING HAT BRIM Vernon Langness, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application May 29, 1953, Serial No. 358,323

1 Claim. c1. 2-117 This invention relates to wearing apparel, and particularly hats of the type having a crown and a brim, and in particular a hat having a brim formed of a plurality of sections having radially disposed edges pivotally mounted on the lower edge of the crown and positioned to, selectively, extend outwardly from the edge of the crown or fold upwardly to a nested position against the outer surface of the crown.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a hat having a brim in which the brim is adapted to extend outwardly to protect the wearer from sun rays or from the elements and which, when use of the brim is not desired, is adapted to be folded upwardly to an out-of-the-way position.

Hats have been provided with various types of brims and although the brim of a soft or felt hat may be positioned to extend upwardly or downwardly it is desired, for some uses, to provide a brim that folds upwardly to a nested position against the outer surface of the crown. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a hat having a crown and a brim in which the brim is divided into a plurality of comparatively small sections and the sections are pivotally connected to the lower edge of the crown whereby some, or all of the sections may be folded upwardly when use thereof is not desired and wherein some, or all of the sections may be adjusted to extend outwardly when an extended brim is desired.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for pivotally mounting a plurality of small sections on the lower edge of a hat crown whereby the sections may be extended for use as a brim or folded upwardly when the brim is not desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for pivotally mounting aplurality of small sections on the lower edge of a hat crown to form a brim in which the sections are resiliently held, selectively, in folded positions and also in extended positions by the same holding means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hat having a plurality of folding sections pivotally mounted on the lower edge of a crown in which the hat is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a hat crown having a resilient element extended through spaced tubular elements on the lower edge and a plurality of sections having radially disposed edges positioned around the lower edge of the hat crown and having spaced hubs positioned between the tubular elements of the crown and through which the elastic element extends.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the improved hat of this invention and showing the hat with the brim extended.

Figure 2 is a view looking upwardly toward the under surface of the hat with the parts shown on an enlarged scale and also showing the hat with the brim extended.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view similar to that shown 2,743,455 Patented .M-ay '1, 1956 inflFi'g. 1 showing the hat with the sections folded to nested positions such as against the outer surface of the hat crown, the hat crown being omitted. Figure 4 is a cross section through one side of the hat showing one of the pivotally mounted sections nested against the outer surface of the hat crown, the parts being shown on an enlarged scale.

Figure 5 is a section, similar to that shown in Fig. 4 illustrating the movement of the section from a nested to an extended position or from an extended to a nested position. I

Figure 6 is a section also similar to that shown in Figs. 4 and 5 showing one of the sections in an extended position.

Figure 7 is a plan view of a portion of the hat with the parts shown on an enlarged scale and with parts broken away and shown in section to illustrate a dove-tail or meshing mounting of the hubs of the sections with the tubular elements at the lower edge of the hat crown.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved folding hat brim of this invention includes a plurality of sections or plates 10, each having a hub 11, square in cross section and having right angular related side surfaces with meeting portions thereof connected with arcuate edges 6 and 7, a hat crown 12 having tubular elements 13 positioned in spaced relation on the lower edge and a 'resilient or elastic element 14, such as an elastic band or spring wire, extended through openings 8 on the axes of the hubs of the sections and also through the tubular elements 13 on the lower edge of the crown.

In the design shown the lower edge of the hat crown is provided with a flange 15 which, as illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 is positioned to coact with the wall of the hat crown to provide a snap action whereby with the distances from side surfaces 9, 16 and 17 of the hubs to the axes of the hubs on the center of the openings being equal to the distance of the axes of the hubs from the surfaces of the crown and flange and with the distances of the edges 6 and 7 from the axes of the hubs greater than the distances of the side surfaces to the axes the sections 10 may be snapped, from the position shown in Fig. 5 wherein side surfaces 16 and 17 of the hub 11 engage the wall of the crown and flange 15, respectively, to the position shown in Fig. 4, wherein the side surfaces 16 and 9 engage the wall of the crown and flange, respectively, or to the position shown in Fig. 6 wherein side surfaces 9 and 17 engage the wall of the crown and flange. With the edges slightly rounded the sections 10 may readily be snapped from nested to extended positions or from extended to nested positions with all of the sections held by a single split or continuous spring member, or by an endless ring of round rubber.

It will be understood that other means may be used for mounting the sections on the lower edge of the hat crown and any suitable number of sections may be used, as may be desired.

It will be noted, in Fig. 3, that as the sections fold. upwardly to nested positions against the outer surface of the hat crown the edges of the sections overlap and the engaging surfaces of the hubs of the sections and wall or flange of the crown may be shaped whereby side surfaces of the hubs of the sections fit selectively, snugly against the outer surface of the crown or extend straight upwardly; or whereby the plates or sections extend straight outwardly or slope downwardly.

It will be understood that other modifications, within the scope of the appended claim, may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

In a hat, the combination which comprises a substantially semi-spherical hat crown, spaced tubular elements secured to the outer surface of saidcrown, and positioned adjacent the lower edge thereof, plates having hubs thereon positioned with the hubs between said tubular elements, and an endless ring of elastic material extended through said tubular elements and hubs of the plates for retaining the plates in assembled relation on the hat crown, said hubs being square in cross section and having right angularly related side surfaces and the distances of the side surfaces from the axes of the hubs being equal to the distance from the axes of the hubs to the outer surface of the hat crown with the plates extended or nested against the crown, and the distance from edges of the hubs at the meeting points of the side surfaces to the axes thereof being greater than the distance of the axes of the hubs to the outer surface of the crown, the side surfaces of the hubs being positioned to coact with the surface of the hat crown to selectively retain the plates in horizontally disposed outwardly extended position or in vertically disposed position wherein the plates are nested against the outer surface of the crown.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 919,984 Powell et a1 Apr. 27, 1909 1,532,310 Funke Apr. 7, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,826 Great Britain June 15, 1869 

